Imaging features of triple-negative breast cancers according to androgen receptor status

Highlights: • TNBC is a heterogeneous collection of breast cancers that is defined by the lack of ER, PR and HER-2 expression. • The luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype of TNBC is associated with lower rates of pathologic complete response. • Androgen receptor (AR) status is a surrogate immunohistochemical marker for the LAR subtype of TNBC. • Imaging surrogates of the chemoresistant LAR subtype could also be potentially identified. • AR+ TNBC significantly associates with masses with high density, calcifications, and irregular shape. - Abstract: ObjectiveDifferent molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have previously been identified through analysis of gene expression profiles. The luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype has been shown to have a lower rate of pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than other TNBC subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine if the imaging features of TNBCs differ by AR (androgen receptor) status, which is a surrogate immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for the chemoresistant LAR subtype of TNBC.